Tin-plate-cleaning machine



Filed Jan. 28, 1927 w R N O M Mf IMWMM Swim w o N 0 N w a? m U .3 n

///////zV///A NAN M Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,705,177 PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL E. DIESCHER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO S. & SONS, A PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING 0F SAMUEL E. DIESCHER AND AUGUST 1?. DIESGHER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIN-PLATE-GLEANING MACHINE.

Application filed. January 28, 1927. Serial No. 164,221.

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning tin plate.

In the manufacture of tin plate it is well known that plate is passed through a body of molten tin and then through a body of grease, usually palm oil, which rests upon the molten tin at the discharge side of the pot. Vhile the plate is passing through the upper portion of the grease its coating of tin becomes set, and after it passes out of the pot the layer of grease adhering to it prevents oxidation of the tin while the plate is still hot. After the plate is cooled to a temperature below that at. which the tin oxidizes in the atmosphere, the layer of grease not only serves no useful purpose, but must be removed to render the plate commercially useful. The usual practice in removing grease from tin plate is to pass the plate through what is known as a branning machine in which bran is variously rubbed upon the surfaces of the plate. However, in the present forms of plate-cleaning apparatus, considerable difiiculty has arisen by reason of inability to entirely remove the grease,

and unless it is entirely removed the plate has a blue cast which is prejudicial to the effective use of the plate for lithographic purposes.

The present. invention is predicated upon my discovery that an important factor in the thorough cleaning of tin plate to render it free from blue cast is the temperature of the bran used in the cleaning apparatus. I have found that unless the bran is maintained at a temperature not higher than about 140 degrees F. it is impossible to remove the blue cast from tin plate. Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide tin plate cleaning apparatus with means for maintaining the bran or equivalent cleaning material at a temperature of below that stated.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a combined side elevation and longitudinal sectional view of a plate cleaning apparatus; Fig. 2 a longitudinal central sectional View of a roll used in the apparatus, the plane of view being indicated by the line 11-11, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 a sectional view of a portion of the bottom of the cleaning apparatus, the plane of view being indicated by the line .III'-III. Fig. 1.

In the practice of this invention a box,

provided with bran or equivalent cleaning material and having means for applying the bran to tin plate passed through it, is provided with means for cooling the bran in the box. While various means may be provided for so cooling the bran, this is preferably done by cooling the means, or a portion'of them, used for applying the bran to plate, and by cooling the means for circulating the bran in the box.

The tin plate cleaning apparatus shown in the drawings is similar in its general features of construction to that shown in my Patent No.'1,279,67 2. The machine comprises a box 1 provided fwith a series of pairs of rotatable cleaning rolls, between which plate is passed, and by which bran is applied to its surfaces. T 0 gain the advantages explained in my Patent No. 1,155,711, one of each of these pairs of rolls is preferably formed of metal and the other of felt, the metal and felt. rolls being arranged alternately in successive pairs, the metal roll being the lowermost in one and the uppermost in the adjacent pairs of rolls. At the entering end of the box there 1s preferably arranged a pair of combined feed and plate-cleaning metal rolls 4, to the surfaces of which some of the grease from the plates adheres, and from the surfaces of which this adhering grease is continuously removed by suitable cleaners or scrapers 5. In the bottom of box 1 there are a plurality of screw conveyors 6 or equivalent means for causing bran carried forwardly by the plate to be moved towards the entering end of the box in a direction opposite to that of the movement of the plate through the box.

It has previously been explained that ac cording to this invention some of the branapplying mechanism is cooled to maintain the bran at. a low temperature. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention provision is made for cooling some or all of the lowermost metal rolls 3. As shown particularly in Fig. 2, such rolls may be formed of a metal cylinder 10 provided with beads 11 and 12. Through the head 11 there extends a pipe 13 to which water or other cooling medium is supplied through a pipe 14 suitably connectcd to it. Within cylinder 10 pipe 13 is provided with perforations for the discharge of water,

cylinder through passages 15 and 16 formed which then flows from the avoid the formation of air in head 12, the passage 16 being suitably connected to a discharge pipe 17. By thus cooling the lowern'iost metal rolls 3, it has been found that the temperature of the bran may be maintained materially below 140 degrees F.

As an alternative construction, or for use in conjunction with cleaning apparatus includmade for cooling the bottom of box 1 on which bran is supported as it is moved towards the entering end of the cleaning mechanism. As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the bottom of the box is shaped to form a plurality of troughs 20, in each of which there is arranged the screw conveyor 6. For cooling the bottom of the box it is preferably made of double wall construction affording a passage 21 for the flow of water which may enter the passage through a supply inlet 22 and be discharged from it through an outlet 23. To pockets in passage 21 bet-ween troughs 20, outlet pipes 26 extend upwardly from outlet 23 between the troughs.

In the operation of the cleaning mechanism, the plate is fed to it from a suitable conveyor 25, and is passed into the box 1 by the metal feed rolls 4., to the surfaces of which some greaseadheres. This grease is removed from the rolls by the scrapers 5. The plate then passes between successive pairs of rolls 23, the members of which are so driven at different relative speeds that, in addition to conveying the plate through the bran, they rub the bran upon the faces of the plate and carry the bran from the entering towards the exit end of the box. As the plate moves through the box the bran falls from it and is moved forwardly by conveyors 6. By its contact with the lowermost water cooled metal rolls 3, and with the bottom 20 of the box, the bran is cooled so that it is rendered effective for so removing the grease from tin plate that late does not have a blue cast or any harmul greasy character of surface.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I

mg water cooled metal rolls, provision'is desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced by other forms of construction th n those particularly shown and described.

' I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for cleaning tin plate, the combination of a box provided with a cleaning material, a series of pairs of rotatable rolls in the box by which such material is applied to the surfaces of tin plate as it is passed between the rolls, means inchnling troughs for moving the cleaning material in a direction opposite to that of the passage of plate through the machine, and means for cooling I said troughs to in turn cool the cleaning material in said box.

2. In a branning machine for cleaning tin plate, the combination of a box adapted to be provided with bran, means in said box for applying the bran to tin plate for cleaning it, and means for cooling the bran within the box.

3. In a branning machine for cleaning tin plate, the combination of a box adapted to be provided with bran, a series of pairs of rotatable rolls in the box by which the bran is applied to the surfaces of tin plate as it is passed between the rolls, and means for cooling the bran within the box.

4. In a machine for cleaning tin plate, the combination of a box adapted to be provided withbran, a series of pairs of rotatable rolls in the box by which the bran is applied to the surfaces of tin plate as it is passed between the rolls, some of said-rolls being metal cylinders, and means for cooling the metal gylinder rolls to in turn cool the bran in said 5. In a machine for cleaning tin plate, the combination of a box adapted to be provided with bran, a series of pairs of rotatable rolls in the box by which the bran is applied to the surfaces of tin plate as it is passed between the rolls, the lowermost roll of alternate pairs of said rolls being ametal cylinder, and means for cooling said lowermost metal cylinder rolls to in turn cool the bran in said box.

In testimony whereof, I sign to name.

SAMUEL E. DIE CHER. 

